Voltaic belt



(No Model.)

C. B. JUDD.

VOLTAIU BELT.

No. 366,777. Patented July 19, 1887. f

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UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. JUDD, OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOXVA.

VOLTAIC BELT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,777, dated July 19, 1887 Application filed August 26, 1886. Serial No. 2 1L051. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. JUDD; a citizen of the United States, residing at Council Bluffs, in the county of Pottawattamie and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Voltaic Belts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in voltaic belts.

The object of my invention is to couple the plates together compactly, to secure an increased quantity and strength of current, and to form a flexible chain without the employ ment of hinge-jointcounections between the plates, each set of plates being easily removed from the string and replaced thereon, or placed at varying distances from each other, to permit the plates to be conveniently cleaned or renewed by unskilled persons, and to provide ample space around the plates for free circulation of air and to prevent polarization.

The improvement consists in various constructions and combinations of parts hereiuafter specified, and particularly designated in the claims, with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereiu Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved belt; Fig. 2, a plan of the same; Fig. 3, aperspective of the end of the belt enlarged, showing the abutment-plate for holding the plates upon the string; Fig. 4, an elevation of a short section of plates which may be used separately or connected to other similar sections. Fig. 5 represents a view of an adjustable connection by which the electrodes may be adjusted to any portion of the belt to vary the current. Fig. 6 represents a perspective view of one of the tubular conductors which are interposed between the voltaic elements of the belt, and Fig. 7 'an enlarged view of one end of the in sulating-string and its threading attachment.

The preferred form of my invention is shown in the first three figures of the drawings, wherein rectangular strips of zinc, A, and corresponding strips of copper, B, are placed upon opposite sides of a strip, 0, of felt cloth or other absorbent material, to form a single cell or group of plates, each strip being correspondingly perforated atits ends a a, to re ceive an insulated-string or' wire, D, which serves to hold the plates together. Between each group of plates I preferably interpose a metal cylinder, E, of conducting material, also strung upon the insulated string D, which serves to hold the plates apartin separate cellgroups withinterveningspaceslocatcd between each group to allow free circulation of air, and thus accelerate evaporation, and also provide ample space between the plates to permit them to be easily cleaned without being removed from the string, and to prevent polarization by separating the cells from each other a sufficient distance.

The insulated string D is preferably doubled, one end thereof being passed through the holes a upon one end of the strips or plates, and the other end thereof passed in the same direction through the other ends of said strips or plates. The string is then drawn tightly from its ends to bind the plates together closely in contact with each other, and the ends of said string are then laced through perforations f in an abutment-plate, F. (Shown clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings.)

The plate F may he slipped or adj nsted upon the string D, to retain the plates A B thereon with any required tightness, the elasticity of the felt layers or strips 0 being suflicient to render the chain more or less flexible at all times.

The string'D is preferably formed of a cop per wire, (I, and a tubular rubber cover, d, which latter forms a complete insulation between the plates A and B, and is perfectly noncorrosive. The string D may be made of rubber solely or of other material covered with rubber, and the ends of said string are tipped with metal points (P, which permit the plates to be easily threaded.

A short section of plates is shown in Fig. 4:. The terminal copper plate B at one end of said section is provided with a hook, B, and the abutmcnt-plate F ofsaid section is formed with a slot or eye, F, to receive the hook of an ad joining and corresponding section of plates. By this means a chain of any required length and strength of current may be formed, andshort sections may be used separately for special purposes requiring a current of less intensity.

Acidulated water, vinegar, or other electrolytic fluid isemployed to moisten the felt strips and generate the current, and the chain may be inclosedin any well-known or preferred form of jacket, H, to protect the body from the fluid or moistened felt strips.

The conductors L, provided with electrodes L at one end and contact-plates L at the opposite end, may be attached 'to .the terminal plates of the battery, or the conductor may be attached to any one of theintermediate plates of the chain, thus shortening up the circuit and decreasing the strength of the current. This obj ectis effected by making the electrodes bifurcated at Z Z, as shown in Fig. -5 in detail, the members being made of spring metahso as to embrace any desired plate and form electrical connection therewith, communication With the next adjoining plate or opposite element being prevented by the interposed felt, thus preventing shortcircuiting.

\Vhen the belt is worn, the electrodes L are applied to the body at separate points in any desired position, according to the portions desired to be subjected to the action of the electric current. It is evident that when thus applied the portio'ns of the body between the electrodes form part of the electric circuit, thus compelling the current to take its course through the body or a particular portion thereof.

By the above described arrangement of plates a current of great intensity may be obtained from a short fiat belt, which may be closely encircled upon the extremities, or inclosed within a small compass, and sufficient space is left between the plates for cleansing them easily and for preventing polarization.

A number of separate zinc plates may be placed one upon the other, as shown in Figs. 4, 7, 8, and 9, to re-enforce and replace each other as they become consumed, and unskilled persons may easily nnstring the plates to clean or replace the old plates with new ones.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A voltaic belt consisting of cell-groups of positive and negative plates, with layers of absorbent material placed between them, the tubular conductors located between the respective groups, and the strings passing through the groups and the tubular conductors to bind the whole together and form a flexible chain, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in a voltaic belt, ofthe plates A B, absorbent layer 0, conductingsleeves E, and strings D, with the terminal plates F, having perforations f, through which the ends of the strings are laced,

whereby the cell-groups are secured together,

substanliall y as specified.

CHARLES B. JUDD.

Witnesses:

W. H. Rown, JAMEs CRAIG. 

